Fluid heater and cooler.



Patented Feb. 14;, 1911.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. D. LOVEKIN.

FLUID HEATER AND COOLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1909.

L. D. LOVEKIN. FLUID HEATER AND COOLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1909, 9 3991 a Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

L. D. LOVEKIN.

FLUID HEATER AND COOLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1909.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

at are.

LUTHER ID. LOVEKIN, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUID HEATER AND COOLER.

' phia, in the State of Pennsylvan'a, have invented a certain new and usefl 1 Improvement in Fluid Heaters and Coolers, of which the following is a true and exact description,

reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My present invention relates to apparatus of the kind in which provisions are made for the flow of two separate fluids of different temperatures in proximity to each other in order that heatmay be transferred from one fluid to the other.

The general object of the present inven I tion is to provide apparatus of the kind, and

for the purpose specified, which is simple and/relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is compact, and which is eiiicient and durable in operation.

l The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to v and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention and thespecific objects obtained with it, and the advantages possessed by it, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I. have illustrated and described forms'in which the invention may be embodied.

' Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view ofa device primarily intended for use as an oil cooler. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 Fig. 4: is a sectional plan on the line 4,4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan, or bottom end view, of the heater shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the lower casing end removed. 'Fig. 6 is a View, similar to' Fig. 2, of a modified construction particularly adapted for use as a feed water heater where. the temperature of the water steam.

The device shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 is to be raised by the use of (is primarily designed for cooling a liquid such as oil by the use of a cooling fluid such as cold water. The device comprises a plurality of tubular elements each consisting of an inner tube H and an outer tube G surrounding the-tube H and separated from it by a space C, a, pair of disk like chambered Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 1, 1909. Serial No. 493,277.

Patented Feb. 141., 19M.

members A and B to which the opposite ends of the tubes G and H are connected, a

casing surrounding the bodies of the tubular 'G and H are connected into the members A and I3 and Various common features can be seen more readily in Fig. 6 than in Fig. 2 owing to the larger scale on which Fig. 6 is drawn. I

The member A- is formed on its inner side or end with a plurality, six in the present instance, of hollow bosses or seats A arranged in a circle. In each boss is secured, as by brazing, one end of the corresponding one of the tubes G of which. there are six, The other ends of the tubes G are connected in the same or similar manner into bosses B formed on the inner end or side of the end member B. Openings A each coaxial with a corresponding one of the seats A are formed in the outer end wall of the member A. These openings are enlarged at their upper ends, as indicated, at A. Each tube H is formed with an end portion H passin through and filling the correspondingopem ing A 9. Each end portion H is provlded with a collar or rib H which fills and seats against the bottom of the enlargement A and makes a tight joint therewith,- when the end portion H is clamped inplace by suitable means, as in the constructions shown, by the end member F which is clamped against the end member A by bolts F The end portions H of the tubes H are formed, in the construction shown, by collars brazed on the ends of the body portion of the tubes H. Similarly, the tubes H are provided at. their opposite ends with end portions H adapted to pass through apertures B formed for the purpose in the outer or bottom wall of the end member B. The end portions H are provided with shoulders H adapted to bear against and make a tight joint with the seats 13 provided on the inner side of the outer wall of the end member B. The end portions H are externally threaded and nuts H are provided for clamping the end portions 11- in place and tions, so that while the tubes can beassem bled and disassembled by threading the in-,

ner tubes in place in the outer tubes, the surface of the intertube spaceis large relative to its volume. Moreover the corrugation of the tubes G and H permit them to expand and contract relative to each other without producing any injurious strains or leaky joints. The heater, in so far as the corrugated bodies of the tubes G and H are concerned, embodies the invention of my prior Patent, No. 904,627, granted November 24, 1908.

To maintain uniform thickness of the spaces C, lugs G may be brazed, soldered or otherwise formed at intervals on the tubes G. Preferably one or more of these lugs isprovided at the extreme upper end of each tube G, and the lug or lugs. thus located serve to clear the corresponding tube H as it is threaded into or out of the tube G carrying the lug.

In order that the device may be compact as a whole, while at the same time preserving the necessary separation between adjacent tubular elements, the external corrugation ribs G of each tube G nest in the corrugation grooves Gr of its neighboring elements.

It will be observed that the end connections shown and described are such as to readily permit the inner tubes H to be initially put into place in the members G and to be removed and replaced. I make no claim herein, however, to the particular con struction of end connections disclosed,- for this construction, while novel with me, is claimed in my prior application, Serial No.

463,962, filed Nov. 23, 1908.

It will be observed that with the construction disclosed, the space 0 between each tube- H and the surrounding tube G is open at its opposite ends to the interior of the chambered end members A and B. The space in the end member A is divided by suitable diaphragms, or partition walls, into compartments A, A A and A. One tube G opens at its upper end into the compartment A, another tu e G opens into the compartment A, and two tubes G open into each of the compartments A and AK- Similarly, the interior of the lower end member B is divided into three compartments, B B and B by suitable partition walls. in the case of the end member B, however, tw0-of the tubes G open into each of the compartments B B and B The arrangement is such,

however, that a fluid entering the compartment A in the end member A must pass in series through all of the tubes G, or rather, through the spaces between each tube G and the surrounding tube H, to reach the compartment A This is accomplished by arranging the tubes so that one tube G is open at its upper end to thecompartment A and u at its lower end to the compartment- Bl, while the second tube G is open at its loweir end to the compartment B and at its upper end to the compartment A the third tube is open at its upper end to the compartment A and at its lower end to the compartment B the fourth tube is openat its lower end to the compartment B and at its upper end to the compartment A, the fifth tube is open at its upper end to the compartment A and at its lower end to the compartment-B and the sixth tube is open at its lower end to the compartment B and at its upper'e'nd to. the compartment A. I

In the'particular construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the oil to be cooled, and in general the fluid which it is the primary object to change the temperature of, is passed through the space between the tubes H and G of the tubular elements. In the par-- ticular construction illustrated, the compartments A and A are expanded at- A and A to form spaces from which lead the inlet and outlet oil ports A and A respec-- tively. In the construction illustrated,'the cooling fluid, for instance water, is admitted to the interiors of the tubes H at their upper ends through channels F formed in the end member F and all'divergingfrom the central water inlet port F at the upper end of the member F. The water passing down through the tubes H is discharged at the lower end of the latter into the inclosing casing formed by the members A, D and E. The outlet port'A for the cooling water leads from the outlet space, or chamber,

A formed in the end memberA'. The end member A is provided with ears A by 'means of which the devicemay be supported. Various ports A and F may be provided for the insertion of thermometer tubes for measuring the temperatures existing in various portions of the apparatus. A" represents an opening in which an oil drain cock may be inserted. As shown, the end members A and B are provided with stiffening ribs A and B, respectively, and 120.

acacia tubes G; In thisform the port A in member F is dispensed with and a discharge pipe M for water condensed from the heating,

steam is provided which leads from the member E and may be provided with any suitable valve,'trap or cock (not shown).

It will be observed that in both forms of the invention disclosed relative expansion between the tubular elements and the casing may occur without putting any strain on the apparatus, the end member B beingfree to move relative to the casing end E toward and away from the latter. The inlet and outlet ports for the fluid passin through the intertube spaces-C is forme in the cast'memher A, and the port F is formed in; the relatively heavy cast member F directly secured to the member In both forms the apparat'usis compact and durable and highly efiicient since provision is made for a highly effective circulation of the working fluid and the fluid acted upon particularly the latter. The device may be readily assembled initially and disassembled and reassembled when necessary for inspection, cleaning or repairs.

VVhileithe device shown in Figs. 1. to 5 is especially designed for use in cooling oil and that shown in Fig. 6 for heating water, it is apparent that either form may be used, with or without slight modifications, for a variety of heating or cooling purposes. For in- .stance, by removing the casing end member E of Fig. 6, the apparatus there shown could be used without other change as a heater deriving heat from any source such as a gas burner, the products of co bustion passing out of the casing through t 1e port F While the forms described and illustrated are the best forms of the device now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in the form of my invention without departii'ig from its spirit, and I do not wish the claims hereinafter made to be limited to the particular embodiment of my invention disclosed more than is made necessary by the state of the art.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- Y ters Patent, is:

1. In a fluid heater or cooler, the combination of a structure formed with a series of parallel passages, said member having openings at one edge, one at the end of each of said passages and having each opening enlarged at its outer end to provide an annular shoulder surrounding the bodyof the opening, tubular members, one passing through but not filling each of said tubular passagesand each having an end portion provide with a rib adapted to seat on said annular shoulder of the corresponding opening, and a one piece end member, detachably clamped against said one edge of said structure and engaging the end portions of the tubular members to hold them in place, and formed v'ith ports communicating with the interiors of said tubular members.

2. In a fluid heater or cooler, thecombination of a plurality of pairs of tubular ele- I'nents, each consisting of an inner tube and an'outer surrounding tube separated 'from the inner tube by a space, and a member to which one end of each tube is connected, said member being formed with compartments arranged toconnect the intertube spaces of said elements together in pairs.

3. In a fluid heater or cooler, the combina- ,tlOl'l of a plurality of tubular elements, each conslstmg of an inner tube and an outer surrounding tube separated from the inner tube by a space, a member to which one end of each tube is connected and another member to, which the opposite ends of saidtubes are connected, said members being formed with chambers by which the intertube spaces of each of various elements are connected to the intertube spaces of another elementin one member and to the intertube spaces of a third element in the other member.

4. In a fluid heater or cooler, the combination of a plurality of circularly arranged and parallel tubular elements, each consisting of an inner tube and an outer surrounding tube separated from the inner tube by a space, a circular chambered member to which one end of each tube is connected with the intertube spaces of each element open to the interior of said chamber, and a second circular chambered member to which the opposite ends of the tubes are connected with the intertube spaces of the elements open to the interior of said second chambered memher, said chambered members being formed with diaphragm or partition walls dividing the chambers therein into compartments whereby the intertube spaces of the various elements are connect-ed in series.

5. In a fluid heater or cooler, the combination of a plurality of tubular elements, each consisting of an inner tube and an outer surrounding tube separated from the inner tube by a space, a chambered member to which one end of each tube is connected, and a second chambered member to which the opposite ends of the tubes are connected, with the intertube spaces of the elements open to the interiors of said members, and diaphragm or partition walls in said members dividing the chambers therein into con'ipartments whereby the intertube spaces of the various elements are connected in series.

6-. In a fluid heater or cooler, the combination of a plurality of tubular elements, each consisting of an inner tube and an outer surrounding tube separated from the inner tube by a space, a chambered member provided with a pair ofalined openings in its opposite walls for each element and having the Outer tube of the corresponding element connected into and filling one of said openings, and the inner tube extending into and filling the other of said openings, and a cap member Secured to said chambered member and bearing against the ends of the inner tubes of said elements, and formed with passages opening to the interiors-of the inner tubes. 7. In a fluid cooler or heater the combination of a plurality of circularly arranged and parallel tubular elements, each consisting of an inner tube and an outer surrounding tube, separated from the inner tube by a space, a circular chambered member provided with a pair of alined openings in its opposite walls for each element and having the outer tube of the corresponding element connected into and filling one of said open-. ings and the inner tube extending into and filling the other of said openings and a circular cap member secured to said chambered member and bearing against the ends of the inner tubes of said elements, said cap member being formed with an axial port and with passages connecting said port with the interiors of the inner tubes of the elements.

8. In a fluid heater or cooler, the combination of a plurality of tubular elements, each consisting of an inner tube and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube and separated therefrom by a space, a chambered end member to which one end of each of said tubes is connected with the inter-tube spaces of the various elements open to the interior of said end member, a second chambered end member to which the opposite ends of the tubes are connected with the intertube spaces of the elements open to the interior of said member, a casing formed in part by the first mentioned end member surroundlng sa1d elements and said second end member, means for passing a fluid to be heated or cooled in series through the inter-tube spaces of said elements, and means for causing a second fluid to flow between the interior of the easing surrounding the said elements of the second end member and the exterior of the easing through the inner tubes of the elements.

9. In a fluid heater or cooler, the combination of a plurality of pairs of tubular elements, each element consisting'of an inner tube and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube and separated therefrom by a space, a chambered member to which one end of each tube is connected with the intertube spaces of each element open to the interior of the member, a second end member towhich the opposite ends of the tubes are connected With the intertube spaces of the threaded tube and an internally threaded surrounding member with the threads of the member and tube-of the same pitch and nesting loosely together whereby a-shallow space is provided between the member and the tubewhile the tube may be threaded into and out of the said member,and a lug car ried by said member and adapted to fit over the thread of the tube whereby said lug serves to clean said tube as the latter is threaded into and out of position.

LUTHER D. LOVEKIN.

lVitnesses ARNOLD KA'rz, D. STEWART. 

